Ex-Cop Convicted of Forcing Prostitutes to Provide Sex

RIVERSIDE – A former Inland Empire law enforcement officer who used his authority to compel prostitutes to provide him with sexual favors was convicted today of federal charges.

Jose Jesus Perez, 46, of Menifee could face life in prison when he’s sentenced Aug. 18 by U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips.

Following a weeklong trial, a Riverside jury found Perez guilty of two felony counts and one misdemeanor count of deprivation of rights under color of law, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations that the offenses involved aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping and great bodily injury.

Jurors acquitted Perez of a related misdemeanor.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendant coerced three prostitutes to perform sex acts while he was on duty with the San Bernardino Police Department. Perez was fired from the agency in December 2012, and about eight months later, was indicted by a federal grand jury.

In April 2011, Perez forced a woman to perform oral sex on him while he groped her, according to prosecutors. The assault happened in the defendant’s patrol car, while Perez was in uniform and armed, according to the indictment.

A second prostitute alleged that she had several encounters with the defendant in August 2011. According to court papers, the then-policeman demanded that she have sex with him, emphasizing that he would make her life difficult otherwise. She complied, accompanying Perez to a motel.

A third woman told investigators that the defendant repeatedly harassed her while he was on duty, insisting that she have intercourse with him.

”The three women each testified that they feared repercussions if they did not comply with Perez’s demands,” according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office statement.

Perez transferred to the San Bernardino Police Department in 2008, following an 11-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department.

The FBI and SBPD jointly investigated the case.

Ex-Cop Accused of Forcing Pros to Provide Sex

RIVERSIDE – A former Inland Empire law enforcement officer accused of using his authority to compel prostitutes to provide him with sexual favors was arrested today in Texas, a day after a federal grand jury in Riverside indicted him on multiple felony charges.

Jose Jesus Perez, 46, of Menifee allegedly forced two prostitutes to perform sex acts while he was on duty with the San Bernardino Police Department.

”Mr. Perez allegedly violated the civil rights of victims he vowed to protect, instead of gaining their trust and providing them with the basic respect all members of a community deserve,” said Bill Lewis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. ”By his alleged actions, Mr. Perez also violated the trust of his fellow officers and the community he swore to serve as a police officer in the city of San Bernardino.”

Perez, who was fired from SBPD in December, was arrested without incident by local police in Denton, Texas, where he was apparently visiting friends and family, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The defendant is facing three counts of unlawful intercourse and one count of aggravated sexual abuse, with sentence-enhancing allegations of bodily injury, use of a weapon and kidnapping.

If convicted of all four counts, Perez could face life in prison. He’s slated to make his initial court appearance tomorrow at the federal courthouse in Sherman, Texas.

Perez allegedly forced a woman, whose identity was withheld, to perform oral sex on him in April 2011. The alleged assault involved the use of force, while Perez was in uniform and armed, according to the indictment.

A second prostitute, also unnamed, alleged that she had several encounters with the defendant in August and September 2011. According to court papers, the then-policeman demanded that the victim have sex, implying that he would make her life difficult otherwise.

Perez transferred to the San Bernardino Police Department in 2008, following an 11-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department.